Psychiatric aspects of temporal arteritis: a case report and review of the literature.
Temporal arteritis may present with atypical manifestations that can hamper its diagnosis. We report a case presenting with predominantly psychiatric symptoms including psychotic features and affective symptoms both on a background of cognitive impairment. Such clear-cut psychotic symptoms have not been described previously in the literature. Corticosteroid treatment was followed by full remission of psychotic and affective symptoms; treatment with antipsychotic medication was unnecessary. Temporal arteritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of psychosis and affective disorder in the elderly. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a valuable parameter in the assessment of old-age psychiatry patients presenting both with functional and neurologic disorders.
Johnson
H
H
Department of Health Care of the Elderly, Medical School, Queens Medical Center, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Bouman
W
W
Pinner
G
G
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology
D011239:Prednisolone